Bougainvillea

Tropical vegetation of Mexico

Bougainvillea

In 1768, Admiral Louis de Bougainville journeyed the oceans and circumnavigated the globe in the company of a French botanist who is said to have discovered this flowering vine in Brazil. Since then, its presence has spread all over the world.

Growing in abundance all over Mexico and in warm climates world-wide, this vibrantly colored plant provides brilliant splashes of purple and lavender, shocking pink, white, and orange . The woody vines have a thorny protection that makes them favorites as deterrents for invaders along walls and fence lines… anything or anyone trying to make their way through a thick and mature bougainvillea barrier is sure to end up well scratched and hurting… if they can manage to make their way through the tangle  a t all!

Members of the Nyctaginaceae (Four-O’Clocks) family, these tropical climbers are vigorous, evergreen, woody vines with thorns. A tangle of bougainvillea vines along a fence line provides excellent protection and is at the same time pleasing to the eye!

Bougainvilleas show their greatest color in winter and early spring – the dry season here in Mexico – although there are year-round varieties. The vines can be clipped  to stay bushy in pots or hanging baskets, or trained to grow in large cascades over fences, walls and trellises. Bougainvilleas flourish in direct sunlight.

Keep long shoots cut back to 18″-20″, fertilize frequently and water very lightly for best bloom. Over-watering will reduce the output of flowers and may lead to the plant weakening. Bougainvilleas are almost totally insect-free.

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Originally posted 2009-08-03 17:31:59.